Baylor Softball Falls to Texas In Extras

WACO - Whitney Canion struck out 14 through eight innings of work, but couldn't work out of a ninth-inning jam as No. 9 Texas (28-4, 1-0) scored four in a 4-0 win over No. 15 Baylor (26-6, 0-1) before a capacity crowd at Getterman Stadium. The attendance of 1,501 was a new Getterman Stadium record.

"What a pitching duel we were treated to today," head coach Glenn Moore said. "We were ready to play and Whitney was great, they just outlasted us. Credit (Blaire) Luna because she threw as well as I have ever seen her throw."

Canion (13-4) took the loss, going 8.0 innings, giving up three hits, three runs, three earned, two walks to go with the 14 strikeouts. Heather Stearns came on in the ninth with the bases loaded and no outs, finishing by giving up two hits, one unearned run and two strikeouts.

Luna (14-1) allowed two hits, one walk and struck out 14 in the complete-game win for UT.

Canion had five strikeouts through two innings after fanning the side in the second, but allowed the first base hit to lead off the third. With two away, Taylor Hoagland singled to left and saw Torie Schmidt round third and head for home, but Linsey Hays came up firing and threw her out at the plate to keep the game scoreless.

Kathy Shelton became the first BU player to reach base, extending her streak to 15 games, on a hit-by-pitch, but was called out for leaving early from first for the final out of the fourth.

The Lady Bears looked to get things going in the sixth, as Stearns drew a one-out walk and was pinch ran for by Justine Young. Jordan Strickland put down a sac bunt to put Young in scoring position, but Kaitlyn Thumann fouled out down the first base line to end the threat.

Still scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, Kelsi Kettler delivered Baylor's first hit of the game, through the left side. Kettler advanced to second on a groundout to third from Stearns, but Strickland struck out to strand the senior third baseman.

Stephanie Ceo led off the ninth with a base hit for Texas, off the glove of a sliding Strickland. Canion then walked Hoagland and hit Brejae Washington to load the bases. Stearns came in to pitch and gave up a bloop-single to right center for the 1-0 lead. Following a pop up to short, Kim Bruins delivered a two-RBI double to left center for the 3-0 advantage. Stearns picked up the strikeout on the next batter, but the ball in the dirt allowed Karina Scott to run to first, which wasn't covered, and catcher Clare Hosack's throw to got bobbled and allowed Taylor Thom to score for the 4-0 lead.

Thumann led off the bottom of the inning with a base hit up the middle, but that was all BU could muster the rest of the way.

The Lady Bears and Longhorns will tangle on Sunday for a nationally televised game in Austin beginning at 12:30 p.m. on FSN.